Inspired Navy topple Police 44-24

By Amindha de Alwis

Navy Sports Club produced an inspired performance to beat the fancied Police Sports Club by 44 points (six tries, four conversions and two penalties) to 24 points (four tries and two conversions) in their Dialog Inter-Club ‘A’ Division League Rugby Tournament encounter worked off at the Police Park yesterday (02).

Police SC, who came into the game having beaten the same opponents earlier 26-18 in their first-round matchup at Welisara, were put on the backfoot right from the onset as Navy SC stormed away to a 22-0 lead in the opening 25 minutes.

Chathura Seneviratne got things going for Navy SC as he went over the line in the sixth minute of the game. Fly half Isuru Kongahawatta failed to put away the conversion but made amends a few minutes later when Navy SC were awarded a penalty which he comfortably deposited between the posts.

Shortly afterwards, Navy SC made it 15-0 when Adeesha Weerathunga pounced on a Police SC knock-on to pave the way for a Samith Dananjaya try.

A converted try by wing three quarter Supun Dilshan pushed them further ahead to leave Police SC staring down at a 22-point deficit.

Police SC got on the board with a converted try by Wageesha Weerasinghe but their joy was short lived as the experienced Mushin Faleel bisected the Police SC line to keep his side comfortably in the lead.

Seneviratne then notched up his second try for the day as he motored his way over the Police SC line to leave the score-line reading 34-7 to the visitors.

Police SC got their act together with tries by Shan Akila and Rasith Silva on either side of half time as they reduced the deficit to 15 points.

However, Mushin Faleel, who had an excellent all-round game, powered his way through the Police SC defense to take Navy SC up to 41 points with another converted try.

Mohamed Deen brought up a fourth try for Police SC but it was not quite enough for the home side who were always chasing the game after falling so far behind in the opening half.